The potential of a jumping spider, Phidippus clarus, as a biocontrol agent.

Spiders, particularly assemblages of species, have been shown to be effective in reducing pest insects and crop damage in field crops and orchards. We investigated the potential for a single jumping spider species to reduce pests in a greenhouse setting. We placed three treatments in large enclosures: 1) control treatment of only sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum L.

A refined model for the structure of acireductone dioxygenase from Klebsiella ATCC 8724 incorporating residual dipolar couplings.

Acireductone dioxygenase (ARD) from Klebsiella ATCC 8724 is a metalloenzyme that is capable of catalyzing different reactions with the same substrates (acireductone and O2) depending upon the metal bound in the active site. A model for the solution structure of the paramagnetic Ni2+-containing ARD has been refined using residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) measured in two media. Additional dihedral restraints based on chemical shift (TALOS) were included in the refinement, and backbone structure in the vicinity of the active site was modeled from a crystallographic structure of the mouse homolog of ARD.

Functional and topological characterization of novel components of the comB DNA transformation competence system in Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most diverse bacterial species known. A rational basis for this genetic variation may be provided by its natural competence for genetic transformation and high-frequency recombination. Many bacterial competence systems have homology with proteins that are involved in the assembly of type IV pili and type II secretion systems.

Glutathione S transferase deficiency and passive smoking increase childhood asthma.

Background: It has been suggested that the genetically determined deficiency of glutathione S transferase (GST) enzymes involved in the detoxification of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) components may contribute to the development of asthma.

Methods: A large population of German schoolchildren (n = 3054) was genotyped for deficiencies of the GST isoforms M1 and T1. The association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes and asthma as well as atopy was investigated with respect to current and in utero ETS exposure.

Comparative choleretic and hepatoprotective properties of young sprouts and total plant extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis in rats.

Lyophilised ethanol and aqueous extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis young sprouts and total plant have been evaluated for choleretic and hepatoprotective activities in the rat. R. officinalis ethanol extracts prepared from young sprouts show a significant dose-related choleretic activity and are more active than the total plant extract.